Gone Baby Gone: Ben Affleck (2007)
Wow, it feels odd to be recommending a Ben Affleck movie given the bulk of his recent work, (his earlier roles in Dazed and Confused, Mallrats, and Good Will Hunting obviously excluded) but he really does an amazing job in his directorial debut. If you’ve ever spent any time in Boston off the beaten path, you will love this movie.
Even more so than Affleck’s prior take on Boston, the excellent Good Will Hunting, Gone Baby Gone is a brutally honest and unflinching depiction of the city and the people who live there. Having lived in Boston and worked in Dorchester (way back when), where the bulk of the action takes place, I recognized a lot of the locations, and while I ran with a slightly different crowd, I definitely know people who know the people who could have been cast in this movie.
Throughout the movie I kept remarking how well Affleck nailed every detail. I especially enjoyed all of the neighborhood bar scenes - scary places indeed, and I loved how it was always a nice bright afternoon outside in contrast to the shabby, dimly lit, packed with locals sort of establishments that you can find throughout the city.
Definitely an upgrade over 2003’s, good-but-not-as-good, Mystic River. Both movies are adaptations of Dennis Lehane novels but Clint Eastwood, who directed the first film, just didn’t have the benefit of that South Boston DNA that Affleck clearly drew heavily upon.
A special mention for the mustache worn by Titus Welliver (the guy who played “Adams” in the TV show Deadwood) - worthy of an Oscar on its own.
More Info & Links:
Date Watched: 2/23/08 dvd
IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452623/
Amazon Link: Gone Baby Gone
Rotten Tomatoes : 93% Fresh
